Eric Hovde Gives Large

Yesterday I wrote about how Eric Hovde lives large even while he criticizes the media for reporting on the "sob stories" of the poor.  He has responded to his totally out-of-touch moment by absurdly challenging the head of the Huffington Post to a debate, because they were the first national media outlet to report his unfortunate comments. He has since boasted about his charitable donations as a way to deflect the criticism that he has so rightfully received.

As far as I know, Eric Hovde has not fully released his tax returns so how are we to know exactly where he gives his money? Is he giving big to rabid right wing causes and writing it off as "charity"? Who knows? I'm sure he does give a lot to great charities, he certainly has the resources to do so.

I do know one place where I can 100% confirm that Eric Hovde is a major contributor....he has been very generous to Republican campaigns - especially to his own. 

Here is a partial listing of generous campaign contributions that Eric Hovde has given over the years to Republicans and to their poverty inducing political machine.

• Eric Hovde very generously gave his own campaign over $1.7 million
• Eric Hovde loaned his own campaign an additional $250,000
• $30,000 to the Republican National Committee on 5/26/11
• $28,500 to the Republican National Committee on 7/31/08
• $7,500 to Scott Walker on 9/20/10
• $2,400 to Terrence Wall on 1/19/10 (but may have taken it back later)
• $2,300 to Mike Huckabee on 1/28/08
• $2,300 to John McCain on 1/28/08
• $2,300 to John McCain on 7/31/08
• Sharon Hovde gave $2,300 to John McCain on 1/28/08
• Sharon Hovde gave $2,300 to Mike Huckabee on 1/28/08
• $2,300 to Norm Coleman on 10/31/08
• $2,000 to George W. Bush on 10/27/00 (may have taken back $1,000 of it)
• $1,000 to John McCain on 2/15/00
• $1,000 to Scott Klug on 3/29/96
• $1,000 to Kim Simac on 8/8/11
• $1,000 to Alberta Darling on 8/14/11
• $1,000 to Jonathan Steitz on 8/8/11
• $1,000 to Sheila Harsdorf on 8/8/11
• $1,000 to Luther Olsen on 8/8/11
• $575 to the Republican Party of Wisconsin on 8/1/08
• $575 to the Republican Party of Minnesota on 8/4/08
• $575 to the Republican Campaign Committee of New Mexico on 8/1/08
• $575 to the Colorado Republican Campaign Committee on 7/1/08 
• $500 to Scott Brown on 5/28/10

I personally have no idea how generous Eric Hovde is in giving to legit charity but based on the above list of donations, his biggest political "charity" appears to be his own quest to buy a U.S. Senate seat.